Punahou tops Kaiser in first round, 3-2
| • | Pearl City tops Kaua'i in eight innings, 6-3 |
| • | Leilehua routs error-prone Honoka'a, 13-0 |
| • | Roosevelt's late rally knocks off Hilo, 4-3 |
By Stacy Kaneshiro
Advertiser Staff Writer
Despite committing three errors, it was defense that still saved Punahou as it squeezed past Kaiser, 3-2, last night in an opening round game of the HHSAA/Wally Yonamine Foundation State Baseball Championships before 1,326 at Les Murakami Stadium.
At Les Murakami Stadium First round Leilehua 13, Honoka'a 0 Today's games Consolation Honoka'a vs. Kaiser, 9 a.m. Quarterfinals Pearl City vs. Waiakea, 11:30 a.m.
The Buffanblu (17-6) will play Maui Interscholastic League champion and fourth-seeded Baldwin (13-1) in a 2 p.m. quarterfinal today. Punahou beat MIL runner-up Lahainaluna on Saturday for the play-in berth for this tournament.
HHSAA baseball
Roosevelt 4, Hilo 3
Pearl City 6, Kaua'i 3, 8 inn.
Punahou 3, Kaiser 2
Punahou vs. Baldwin, 2 p.m.
Leilehua vs. 'Aiea, 4:30 p.m.
Roosevelt vs. Mid-Pacific,7 p.m.
Punahou took a 3-1 lead into the bottom of the seventh last night behind starter Jared Pate. Jeff Peters led off with a walk and Pate hit Neale Asato with a pitch. Ryan Ishima then reached first when Pate bobbled a bunt that loaded the bases.
Pate got pinch-hitter Trent Hamada on a double play chopper to shortstop Landon Nakata that allowed Peters to score and pull the Cougars within one with pinch-runner Shannon Wise taking third to represent the tying run. Landon Kaaua then hit a comebacker to Pate, whose throw was high, but hauled down by 6-foot-2 first baseman Kasey Ko for the final out of the game.
"That was a huge double play," Punahou coach Eric Kadooka said. "And thank God Kasey Ko's 6-2."
"I saw he was running fast, so I kind of rushed it and threw it away," Pate said. "Our defense is always up for the game and tonight, they did it again. Thank God for it."
Pate was charged with two runs — both unearned — allowing five hits and a walk with four strikeouts in going the distance for the Buffanblu.
Besides Nakata's double play, second baseman Michael Lam was involved in two double plays to aid Pate.
Michael Heu, a tough-luck losing pitcher, allowed three runs — two earned — on five hits and two walks with four strikeouts in seven innings.
Punahou scored in the top of the first against Heu. Lam flared a single to right with one out. After Mark Veneri flied out to center, Noah Phillips was hit by a pitch. Ko followed with an opposite-field ground single to left to score Lam.
Kaiser (10-4) tied it in the fourth. Jarryd Maeda led off with a single to right-center and advanced to second when Nyles Nakama reached on a bunt single. After Peters struck out, courtesy runner Wise stole third and the throw to third skidded away from third baseman Shaun Kiriu, allowing Wise to score.
The Buffanblu regained the lead in the fifth inning on Lam's RBI triple and added a run in the seventh on an error.
"We just got lucky," Kadooka said.
Reach Stacy Kaneshiro at skaneshiro@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8042.
• • •
• WHAT: Wally Yonamine Foundation State Championship • WHEN: Tuesday to Friday • WHERE: Les Murakami Stadium • TICKETS: $7 adults, $5 students (kindergarten through 12th). • PARKING: $3 • TV: Friday's championship game, 8 p.m., OC-16
SCHEDULE Yesterday First round G1—Leilehua 13, Honoka'a 0 Today Consolation G5—Honoka'a vs. Kaiser, 9 a.m. Quarterfinals G6—Pearl City vs. Waiakea, 11:30 a.m. Tomorrow Consolation G10—Hilo vs. Kaua'i, 9 a.m Semifinals G13—Winners of G6 & G9, 4:30 p.m. Friday Consolation Winners of G5 & G10, noon Fifth place Winners of G11 & G12, 2:30 p.m. Third place Semifinal losers, 5 p.m. Championship Semifinal winners, 8 p.m. YESTERDAY HONOKA'A (10-6) 000 00 — 0 3 5 Mana Bailado and Gary Yu. Spencer Omalza, Joshua Fetters (4) and Jesse Matsuura. W—Omalza. L—Bailado. Leading hitters: Leilehua—Jesse Matsuura 2 RBIs; John Olley 2-3, double, 2 RBIs; Melvin Ferreira 2-2, double, 3 RBIs. HILO (12-3) 002 100 0 —3 7 6 Jesse Yoshida, Milton Kenui (6) and Keola Mizuguchi-Holt. Justin Goo and Kevin Fujii. W—Goo. L—Yoshida. Leading hitters—Hilo: Matt Haasenritter 3-4. Roosevelt: Joshua Danz 1-3 double. PEARL CITY (11-4) 200 100 03—6 9 0 Anthony Ganigan, Blake Kaneshiro (8) and Corey Giammalvo. Shannon Oketani, Alec Reichle (4) and Daryl Higashi. W—Ganigan. L—Reichle. Leading hitters: Pearl City—Michael Higa 2-4; Blake Kaneshiro 2-4; Giammalvo 2-4, 3 RBIs; Thomas Yamasaki 2-4, double, home run, 2 RBIs. Kaua'i—Sam Dias 2-4, double; Kirby Yates 3-4, 2 triples, 3 RBIs. PUNAHOU (17-6) 100 010 1—3 5 3 Jared Pate and Robert Kurisu. Michael Heu and Jarryd Maeda. W—Pate. L—Heu. Leading hitters—Punahou: Michael Lam 2-4, triple, RBI; Kasey Ko 2-3, RBI; Shaun Kiriu double.
Champions breakdowns by league 23—Interscholastic League of Honolulu 14—O'ahu Interscholastic Association 7—Maui Interscholastic League 1—Big Island Interscholastic Federation by school 8—Iolani 6—Punahou 4—Baldwin, Kailua, Mid-Pacific, Kamehameha 2—'Aiea, Kaiser, Moloka'i 1—Campbell, Castle, Farrington, Hilo, Kalani, Leilehua, Maui, Radford, Saint Louis
Baseball tournament
G2—Roosevelt 4, Hilo 3
G3—Pearl City 6, Kaua'i 3, 8 innings
G4—Punahou 3, Kaiser 2
G7—Punahou vs. Baldwin, 2 p.m.
G8—Leilehua vs. 'Aiea, 4:30 p.m.
G9—Roosevelt vs. Mid-Pacific, 7 p.m.
G11—Losers of G8 & G7, 11:30 a.m.
G12—Losers of G6 & G9, 2 p.m.
G14—Winners of G8 & G7, 7 p.m.
LEILEHUA (12-2) 180 4x —13 9 3
ROOSEVELT (11-4) 001 003 x —4 3 3
KAUA'I (9-4) 201 000 00—3 9 2
KAISER (10-4) 000 100 1—2 5 2
